Imagine you are all excited about turning on your irrigation system after winter but instead of water coming out of your sprinklers, your pipes burst out off the ground, and there is a massive eruption in your yard. Unfortunately, this is a scenario that has happened to many people who forgot to prepare their irrigation system after an extended winter period. So what do you do to keep this from happening to you?

Check the Soil
There is a reason why the irrigation system was emptied and closed during winter. Ice and snow can cause significant damage to pipes and the entire system. To ensure this does not happen, be sure that the soil if frost free by pushing a shovel or spade 12 inches below the surface. If the ground is clear of frost, you are good to go.

Remove Obstruction
The initial inspection of the system should be just checking that there is no dirt, plants, and rocks obstructing the flow of water to the pipes or burying sprinkler heads. Check also that the timer is working correctly by adjusting the date, time and any other settings appropriately. If the nozzles, valves, and sprinkler heads are cracked or chipped, replace them before going to the next step.

Release the Pressure
You know that sound that comes out of your shower after a long time with no water in the tank? Well, that kind of pressure and more will happen to your irrigation pipes if you turn the water on without releasing the pressure surge first causing pipes to burst and fittings to jump out of the system. If the system has inbuilt pressure release valves, open them before turning on the water. If it does not, remove the sprinkler heads to let all the air out.

Inspect the System
Ideally, you should have a professional plumber inspect the pipes and valves for you before starting the irrigation system. However, you can also do it by yourself if you know what to check. Start the water very slowly and let the system fill. Close the opened drains and sprinklers so that the water can stop leaking and continue to allow the pressure fill up the system. Take a look at the entire system and ensure there are no leaks or breaks and run every station individually for two minutes to check how they perform. If there are any damages or wear and tear, shut the water off and repair the pipes. You can then rerun the water after the repairs.

Taking the time to prepare the irrigation system is very important to ensure it works correctly when you turn the water on entirely. However, you call an irrigation company if you find that the system is too complicated to handle.